Process for producing jet fuel from lignin

Abstract

A process of producing jet fuel is disclosed. The process comprises separating lignin from a lignocellulosic biomass to provide a lignin stream. The lignin stream is pyrolyzed and/or hydrotreated to produce an aromatic rich bio-oil stream. The aromatics in the aromatic rich bio-oil stream are alkylated with an alkylating agent to produce an alkylated aromatic product stream. The alkylating agent can be taken from the lignocellulosic biomass. The process produces a green jet fuel.

1 . A process of producing jet fuel, comprising:
 separating lignin from a lignocellulosic biomass to provide a lignin stream;   pyrolyzing the lignin stream and/or hydrotreating the lignin stream to produce an aromatic rich bio-oil stream; and   alkylating aromatics in the aromatic rich bio-oil stream with an alkylating agent to produce an alkylated aromatic product stream.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the alkylating agent is an alcohol stream comprising one or more alcohols selected from ethanol, iso-butanol, and propanol. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of separating lignin comprises:
 fermenting the lignocellulosic biomass; and   separating the lignin stream and an alcohol stream from a fermented lignocellulosic biomass.   
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the alkylating agent is an olefinic stream. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising:
 hydrotreating the aromatic rich bio-oil stream to remove oxygenates from the aromatic rich bio-oil stream; 
 fractionating a de-oxygenated bio-oil stream to produce an aromatic naphtha stream; and 
 alkylating the aromatic naphtha stream with the alkylating agent to produce the alkylated aromatic product stream. 
 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising hydrogenating the alkylated aromatic product stream to produce a jet fuel stream and a diesel stream. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising hydrotreating the alkylated aromatic product stream to produce jet fuel. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of alkylating aromatics comprises an alkylation temperature of about 50° C. to about 400° C. and an alkylation pressure of about 1000 kPa to about 10000 kPa. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of pyrolyzing the lignin stream comprises a pyrolysis temperature of about 500° C. to about 700° C. and a pyrolysis pressure of about 100 kPa to about 1000 kPa. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of hydrotreating the lignin comprises a hydrotreating temperature of about 300° C. to about 400° C. and a hydrotreating pressure of about 4000 kPa to about 14000 kPa. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the alcohol stream comprises ethanol. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 6  wherein the step of hydrogenating the alkylated aromatic product stream comprises contacting the alkylated aromatic product stream and a hydrogen stream with a catalyst at a temperature of about 50° C. to about 400° C. and a pressure of about 980 kPa (g) to about 9810 kPa (g). 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 3  wherein the step of separating the lignin stream comprises:
 separating a liquid stream from the fermented lignocellulosic biomass; 
 fractionating the liquid stream to provide an overhead alcohol stream and a bottoms stream comprising lignin. 
 
     
     
         14 . A process of producing jet fuel, comprising:
 separating lignin from a lignocellulosic biomass to provide a lignin stream;   pyrolyzing the lignin stream and/or hydrotreating the lignin stream to produce an aromatic rich bio-oil stream; and   alkylating aromatics in the aromatic rich bio-oil stream with an alcohol to produce an alkylated aromatic product stream.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the alcohol is taken from an alcohol stream separated from the lignocellulosic biomass. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the step of separating lignin comprises:
 fermenting the lignocellulosic biomass; and   separating the lignin stream and an alcohol stream from a fermented lignocellulosic biomass.   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 14  further comprising:
 hydrotreating the aromatic rich bio-oil stream to remove oxygenates from the aromatic rich bio-oil stream; 
 fractionating a de-oxygenated bio-oil stream to produce an aromatic naphtha stream; and 
 alkylating the aromatic naphtha stream with the alkylating agent to produce the alkylated aromatic product stream. 
 
     
     
         18 . A process of producing jet fuel, comprising:
 separating lignin from a lignocellulosic biomass to provide a lignin stream;   pyrolyzing the lignin stream and/or hydrotreating the lignin stream to produce an aromatic rich bio-oil stream;   alkylating aromatics in the aromatic rich bio-oil stream with an alkylating agent to produce an alkylated aromatic product stream; and   hydrogenating the alkylated aromatic product stream to produce a jet fuel stream and a diesel stream.   
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the alkylating agent is an alcohol stream separated from the lignocellulosic biomass. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18  wherein the step of hydrogenating the alkylated aromatic product stream comprises contacting the alkylated aromatic product stream and a hydrogen stream with a catalyst at a temperature of about 50° C. to about 400° C. and a pressure of about 980 kPa (g) to about 9810 kPa (g).